February 22, 1883

Editor Chickasaw County History:

I received your note in reference to the "Little Brown Church" at Bradford, and am happy to reply, tho’ I shall hardly be able to specify as minutely as to dates, as you may wish, but these you can readily obtain.

I came to Bradford in October 1859. At that time the town was quite the metropolis of the county, and the prospect was good that manufacturing would be carried on to an extent that would sustain a large population. The county seat had already been transferred to New Hampton, which was a lonesome and unlikely-looking spot enough, tho’ occupied by some most excellent people.

My congregation moved about, seldom more than three months in a place, for several years. At first we worshipped in a hall over what was then Thomas’ store (now, perhaps, Dickenson’s).  Then we went to a large square room directly north of that - built by Andy Sample, for a store.  This building had been left without care, and had been taken possession of by sheep, until our little flock ousted them. Then we went to the dining room of the Cory Hotel, and sometimes, I think, to the ball room of the Bronson House.  At last we settled in the brick school house (now academy), which, at that time was a most uncomfortable place.

During the year 1861/62 (I should say), I occupied for a study, a room in the house of Mr Dickinson; here began the little church building.

Our able men were mostly in the army.  The times were excessively hard. Wheat, at McGregor or Waterloo, about thirty-six cents per bushel. "Stumptail" Wisconsin money going back on us; everything looking dark.  S. F. Eastman, came to my study to consult with me; he said it would not be possible to raise as large a salary as I had been receiving, but hoped I would try and stay on what could be raised, that is, four hundred and fifty dollars.  I told him (what he already knew), that prices of all merchandise had nearly doubled, and that it would be very difficult to provide for my family, but that I would stay on one condition; that he should take hold with me, heart and hand, to build a church.  To this he agreed, and I considered success a certainty from that moment.

Soon after we made our first move by going to Mr J. Watson for a donation of timber.   He went with us to the woods, and generously marked for our use enough of the finest oaks on his land, to furnish nearly all the dimensional timber and coarse lumber generally, for the whole building (the sills, however, were given by Joseph Bird).  This done, I next secured a force of choppers (headed, I think, by Dea. Billings) to go into the woods and get these trees ready for the mill. Some of the logs were hauled to the mill (then near by), on the snow, but many were left until the next June.  Then Wm. Pomeroy got an ox team, and I went with him to get the rest.  I shall always remember that job, because of a singular incident. We disturbed a pheasant with a covey of half-grown young.  The mother made the usual fuss and pretense to draw attention, while the chicks scattered in all directions.  The team passed on and I lingered behind to see what would happen.  In a few moments I heard a peculiar call of the mother bird, and in an instant one and another of the chicks came whirring past me, to rejoin her.  One of them came so near that I put out my hand and caught it as one would a ball. "on a fly." I feel reasonably certain that in this respect I stand alone among my race.  Who, beside me, ever achieved the distinction of catching a pheasant with the bare hand, on the wing? But I should not expect to do it again.

If memory serves, we also got the lots about the same time, given, I think, byJoseph Bird (or John Bird) and beautiful by reason of the encircling oaks; and we also got out the stone for the foundation; Mr Newton Palmer taking a leading hand at the quarrying.  During the summer or fall we again made a bee, and laid the foundation, which, on the inside, presents several varieties of style.  I recall the fact that one brother laid the stone slanting, like those in the stone fences of New England, which had been the origin of stone craft.  But all being fitly joined together, answered the purpose, and we laid the sills with rejoicing.

Was it about a year after that, that we began to erect the house?  I should think so.  And I do not remember that we had any subscription paper (though I may be mistaken), till much later.  But every one gave labor or material as he could, and step by step progress was made.  The house was roughly enclosed, except part, of the tower that fall.  Then rough boards were laid for a floor, and some use made of the building.  I specially remember a school exhibition under Mr Taylor. It was well on in December, and there was no way to warm the building, but an exceptionally mild winter allowed the children to appear on the stage without discomfort, even in the most gauzy attire.

The next spring the finishing of the house was let by contract to two brothers (names gone from me), and a subscription was made for pine lumber to finish with.  This was hauled, I think from McGregor.  We were to receive a certain amount from the Congregational building fund, $400 or $500.  But it began to appear that even that amount would not be sufficient, and we all began to think we where we could gain a little more help.  It occurred to me that perhaps something could be obtained from the wealthy church of Pittsfield, Mass, whose pastor, Rev John Todd, D.D. (author of "Student’s Manual," "Index Rerum," etc.), had been formerly pastor of the church with which my parents were connected. A letter to him brought a characteristic reply, inclosing more than a hundred dollars.  This began a most interesting personal acquaintance with this doctor, and led to my visiting him repeatedly, and it happened that I had the privilege of attending him during a portion of his last sickness, in 1873.

The first religious use of the house was in the Fall after it was furnished, but not seated - date forgotten - for the funeral obsequies of Mrs Smith, wife of Capt John Smith.  The dedication occurred I should think, during the following winter, bad weather preventing the presence of most of those invited.  This brought us to the spring of 1865, when, as a delegate to the "Boston Council," I went east.  While at Pittsfield I received a commission from Thomas Colt, of that place, to go to Troy, N.Y., and select a bell for the church. I did so, and sent it on.  On its way it excited much attention, being rung by the crowd at Dunleith, Dubuque, and more or less at nearly every station along the line. On my return I found it in place in the belfry.  The pulpit of solid oak was made under my direction by a carpenter at Greenwood; I cannot recall his name.

In some of these statements I may also possibly be mistaken.

What days those were when we were all working together for that great object!  And though I have since had in hand much heavier jobs - have erected churches into which that might be set (without more than docking the top of the tower a little), and have plenty of room all around - yet never have I more enjoyed my work.

The railroad destroyed the town, but I am glad to know that the Little Brown Church holds its own, and is still accomplishing the work for which it was erected.  Some day I hope to revisit the spot, and witness how much and what of fruit remains of these labors so long ago.